Switching device



Nov. 2l, 1950 M. N. YARDENY ETAL 2,531,186

swITcHING DEVICE Filed MaICh 30, 1948 5ml uw Patented Nov. 21, 1950 SWITCHING DEVICE Michel N. Yardeny and Robert Bernas, New York, N. said Bernas assignor to said Yardeny Application Maren 30, 1948, serial No'. 17,883 11 claims. (01201-48) This invention relates to switching and control apparatus, particularly to apparatus for moving two or more contacts into engagement or 'disengagement when and while an actuating means for controlling said apparatus is operated.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide an apparatus of the general type above referred to which effects control of one or more pairs of contacts for engagement or disengagement in response to the operation of an actuating member for control of said apparatus and an automatic returnA of the contacts into the initial relative position when the operation of the actuating member is discontinued independently of the position in which the actuating member is released.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved switching and control apparatus of the general type above referred to, effecting closing or opening of one or more pairs of contacts when and while the actuating member of the apparatus is operated and permitting continued displacement of the actuating member beyond the distancerequired to eifect the aforesaid contact control.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved switching and control apparatus for controlling' the position of a movable element of a suitable device controllable by the position of said control element, for instance a potentiometer, a switch, a gauge etc. by moving an actuating member, and also for controlling the closing or opening of one or more pairs of contacts by the same movement of the actuating member in such manner that the said contacts are closed or opened, as the case may be, when and while the actuating member is moved, and are automatically returned into their respective initial positions when the actuating member is released.

Another and more speciiic object of the invention, allied with the preceding one, is to provide means by which the device to be controlled and said contacts are actuated in a predetermined sequence or at selected adjustable intervals. y

Other and furtherv objects, features and advantages of the invention will be pointed out hereinafter and appear in the appended claims forming part of the application.

Y The switching and control apparatus according to the invention lends itself to many useful applications, partcularly in the field of control of electrical circuit systems. One of the more outstanding advantages of the invention is that the contacts are displaced only during adjustment of the device to be controlled and return automatically into their initial relative position upon completion of theadjustment of the conf trolled device, and that the freedom of move--V ment of the actuating member is not restricted by the control of the contacts.

The apparatus according to the invention per" mits for instance the control of one or more circuit systems by .opening or closing of the saidcontacts while simultaneously controlling the said controlled device and restoration of the original circuit connections by the automatic return of the contacts into their initial positions upon completion of the Acontrol of the device. It also permits an larrangement in which one or more pulses are sent through a circuit system including the said contacts prior orsubsequent to or during adjustment of the controlled de' vice. A particularly useful application of the last mentioned arrangement is fully described in our copending patent application Ser. No. 5,276, led January 3i), 1948, now abandoned.

In the accompanying drawing several now preferred' embodiments of the invention are shown'by way of illustration and not by way of limitation.

In the drawing: Y l Fig. 1 is an isometric view of a switching andv control apparatus according to the invention.

Fig. 2 is an elevational side view of a modiiication vof a switching and control apparatus according to the invention.)

Fig. 3 is anrend view of Fig. 2, as seen from; the right hand side. j'

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary top View of Fig. 2. Y

Fig. 5 is a section along line 5 5 of Fig. 2.f

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 3 on an en' larged scaler showing the contacts to be controlled in a different relative position. v

' Fig. 7 is a section along line '1 -'i of Fig. 3, andv Fig. l8 is a fragmentary view of a modified contact arrangement.

Referring first to Fig. l in detail, this gure shows a switching and control apparatus according to the invention comprising a controlled device l0 diagrammatically shown as a box. This bo'x may contain 1 any suitable device including a movable'fcontrol element and con-y trollable by theposition of this element. De` vices of this type are for instance conventional potentiometers-having a stationary resistor en# gaged by a rotatable wiperarm. Since various devices of this kind are well known in the art it-is not believed to ybe essential for the under standing of the invention to describe them i detail. The position of the movable control element, such as a wiper arm, is controlled by means of a manually operable knob II. This knob is secured to a driving shaft I2 while the wiper arm (not shown) of the potentiometer is secured to a driven shaft I3. Shafts I2 and I3 are coupled by means of a clutch or coupling, generally designated by I4. This clutch is shown as comprising amale coupling member I5 shown as a disk fastened to shaft I2 and a female coupling element I6 shown as a disk fastened toA shaft I3. A pin I1 is extended from disk I5 and engages a radial'slot I8 in disk I5. The cross section of pin I1 is so selected thata certain. play is providedY between disks I5 and. I6.

As will be evident, rotation of knob II in one or the other direction will cause a corresponding rotation of shaft I3 while permitting. an

angular rotation of the shafts relative to each l otherv within the limits of the play introduced.. by. the clearance between pin I1 and'slot4 I8. Shaft I2 further supports a control member I9` shown as a disk rotatably supported on shaft I2. The disk is provided with a slot 29 engaged byr one end of a spring 2I, the other end. of the spring being inserted in an insulation block 2 2..v Spring 2I supports a contact. 23L arrangedfto coact with a second contact 24 supported by a. second spring. 25 also inserted in insulation block 22.. Springs 2 I and 25 are so-biased that they tend to hold contacts 23 and 24 in a predetermined relative positiom. according` to Fig. 1, the

their initial'. position by-'slightl'y rotatingv disk I9 and with it shaft I2. As a result, contacts 23 Aand 24 become automatically disengaged as soon as knob II is released.

As` it will be apparent, the springs are easily' capable of turning disk I9 and shaft I2.

Due to the play between pin I1 and slot I8, the springs have merely to overcome the resistance in the bearings (not shown) of shaft I2. It will furtherv be-noted that the slight rotation of shaft I2 does not affect the angular position of shaft I3 and hence also notthe adjustmentof the. controlleddevice I0.

In this connection it should benotedthat torque transmittableV by clutch 26 and the biasing strength of spring-2L andalso of spring 25. may be so selectedthat the torque is just high enough to cause the desired dellectionof spring, 2l towards spring 25, yet small enough toY per.-y

mit slippingy of disk I9 after engagement ofthe. In the event knob.. II is rotated ina contacts.

counterclockwise direction, controlled. device Illl springs tend to hold the contacts in adisengagedv position.

, As previously mentioned, disk I9 isrotatably mounted on shaft I2. For the purposeof transmitting rotation of shaft I2 to diskI9, a, frictional clutch generally designated by '2B is provided. This clutch as shown as comprising a,y c ollar 21 fixed to shaft I2 on. one side of disk I9` and a second collar 23v secured toshaft I2 on the. other side of the disk. A spring washer 29 dis-y posed between collar 21 and disk I9 serves to press the disk against collar 28;. Aswillbe. apparent, elements 21,28 and 29-constitute. a. frictional clutch capable of transmitting a limited torque from shaft I2 to disk I.9,.the magnitude of. this torque generally depending upon the pressure of spring washer 29 and to a. minor degree. upon the friction between collar 28 and disk I9. Y. Contacts 23 and 24 are connectedy throughsprings 2 Il and 25 to contact ears 30 andv3I which. in turn may berconnected toa circuitsystern to be controlled. The portion of spring 2I engag ing disk I9 may either be made of or covered with insulation material or disk I9 may be made of insulation material. To limit deflection of springZI towards the side opposite to contact 24, a stop 32 is provided supportedVV by block 22. A similar stop may be provided tov limit deflection of spring also.

The operation of the apparatus according to' Fig. 1 is as follows:

. Let -it be assumed that knob II is rotated inclockwise direction, then the rotation of theknob will be transmitted through shafts I2, I3 and clutch I 4 to the wiper arm of potentiometer I0 which will be adjusted accordingly (the circuit connections of the controlled device I0 are not shown to simplify the drawing). the rotation of shaft I2 causes rotation of. disk I9 through the agency of frictional clutch 26'. As aresult, spring 2I and also spring 25 are so deflected that contacts 23 and 24 are now en- 70.: In addition, i

.i 46 respectively, supported byv a frame.L 41.

can be similarly adjusted. However, contacts 23` and 24` will' remain disengaged.

According to themodication shown in Figs. 2L to 7 inclusive, the switching and control device, again comprises a controlled device.. contained in;v

box I0, thecontrolled device being shown as a potentiometer havinga resistor 49 slidably en The ends of there-.

gaged by` a wiperi arm4I. sistor and the wiper arm. may. be connectedto contact. ears 42, 43 and 44respectively. Wiper arm or control. element 4I. is secured toa driven shaft I3 mounted in-alignment withdriving shaft.

disks 49 and 50. this disk is provided with four radial slots 52` and` 53A respectively in crosswise arrangement;

Slots- 52 are engaged by pins 54 extended from. disk 49* and, similarly, slots 53 are engaged by pins- 55 extended from disk 50. The slots areso dimensioned that they allow for a limited play of the pins within the slotsein radial` and circumferential direction.V As a result of the oircumferential play, a certain relative angular rotation between disks 49 and 50 and with it between the shafts is possible.

shown as an-insulation disk having agslot 9|" is engaged by two Contact.

therein. Slot 6I springs B2 and 63 each supporting a contact l64 and respectively. The springs are supported at one end by aninsulation block 66 secured to? frame 41. Contact ears 61 and 61 serve to con-- 71,5; nectV the springs toa circuit system (not showns.

Aa oatingdiskl is disposed in the space between` As can best be seen on Fig. 5;A

By reason of the provided radial play, asatisfactory transmission The springs are so biased that contacts 64. and 65 are disengaged from each other when the springs arey .in normal or undeiiected positions.

For the purpose of transmitting a limited torque from shaft I2, to disk 60, a frictional clutch, generally designated by 1i), is provided. As `can best be seen on Fig. 7, this frictional clutch comprises an abutment Vdisk 1I secured to shaft I2 on one side of contact control disk 60 and two disks 'I2 and I3 axially slidable on shaft I2- and disposed between the other side of control disk 69 and clutch element 50. AA spring washer 14 between disks 'I2 and 13 serves to press disk Si! against disk I I. As will-be apparent, the torque transmittable by frictionalclutch thus formed will largely depend upon the pressure of spring washer M and can be easily adjusted by properly selecting the strength of this spring washer.

Shaft I2 can be rotated by any suitable means such .as a manual knob Ilor by any suitable drive means operatively connected with shaft The operation of the apparatus according to Figs. 2 to 7 is similar to the apparatus according to Fig. l.

l Let it be assumed that it is desired to adjust the position of wiper arm 4I and also to control the circuit system connected to contact ears 61, 61. Shaft I2 is then rotated in one or the other direction. As a result, the position of wiper 4I relative to resistor 4) will be adjusted accordingly. Furthermore, control disk 60 will be moved from the position shown in Fig. 3 in which rcontacts B4 and 65 are disengaged into the position shown in Fig. 6 in which springs 62 and 63 are sufciently deected by the vdisplacement of slot 6I to cause engagement of the contacts. As soon as disk 50 has reached the position shown in Fig. 6, it begins to slip when the rotation of shaft I2 is continued. However, the pressure exerted by the edge of slot 6I engaging the adjacent spring remains sufficiently strong to maintain the spring deflected and the contacts engaged while the rotation of shaft I2 continues. Upon release of shaft I2, the biasing force of the springs rotates disk 60 and with it shaft I2 back into the position shown in Fig. 3 in which slot Si is in such relative position to the springs that the latter can resume their normal undeflected positions in which contacts 64 and 65 are disengaged.

v As will be noted the'position of wiper arm 4I will remain unchanged by the return movement of Vdisk 5G since the corresponding relative rotation of shaft I2 is absorbed by the play in clutch 48.

' The torque transmittable by frictional clutch I and the biasingforce of springs 62 and 63 must of course be adjusted relative to each other as 'has been explained in connection with Fig. 1.

The contact arrangement according to Figs. 5 to 7 inclusive provides for closing of the contacts upon rotation of shaft I2 in either direction while according to Fig. 1 the contacts are closed only upon rotation of one direction.

It is also quite practical to control several circuit systems by the control member of the switching and control apparatus according to the invention. Fig. 8 shows such an arrangement. According to this figure, a spring 80 engaging s lot BI of disk 6B is provided on both sides with contacts 8| and 82 respectively. Upondeflectionl of spring 80 in one direction, contact 8l engages a contact 83 supported on a spring 84,

ports` a contact 89 which upon deflection ofspring 88 engages a contact Sii supported on a spring 9| thereby controlling a third circuit system. All springs are supported by a common lnsulation block 92. Stops 93 provided adjacent to the outer springs serve to limit the spring deflections and also to furnish sufficient resistance to cause slipping of control disk 60 upon continued rotation of shaft I2.

While the invention has Ybeen described in detail with respect .to certain now preferred examples and embodiments of the invention it will be understood by those skilled in the art, after understanding the invention, that various changes and modications may be made without departingfrom the spirit and scope of the invention and it is intended, therefore, to cover all such changes and lmodifications in the appended claims.

What is claimedl as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. In a switching and control apparatus, inA

combination, a controlled device including a movable control element and controllable by the position of said element, a pair of relatively movable contacts, yieldable means coacting with said contacts and biasing the same into a predetermined relative position, a movable actuating member,

' means including a coupling member operatively connecting said actuating member with the controlelement for entrainment thereof by the actuating member, a contact control member operatively connected with the actuating member for movement in unison therewith, said contact control member being arranged and constructed to engage a movable one of said contacts for displacement of the contacts relative to each other against the action of said yieldable means in response to a movement of the actuating member, and frictional means included in said operative connection between the actuating member and the contact control member providing for continued movement of the actuating member independently of the control member upon engagement of the latter with said movable contact, said yieldable means including a spring engaging said contact control member and tending to maintain same in a predetermined position, said coupling ymember permitting relative displacement between said actuating member and said. control element under the control of said spring, thereby enabling said spring to return the contacts into the initial relative position thereof by causingdisplacement of the contact control member together with the actuating member when theflatter is released.

' 2. In a switching and control apparatus, in combination, a controlled device including a movable control element and controllable by the position of said element, Va pair of relatively movable contacts, a spring supporting one of said contacts and biasing the same into a predetermined position relative to the other of said contacts, a movable actuating member operatively connected with the control element for positioning thereof, a contact control member loosely supported on the actuating member and provided with a slot-engaged by-said spring, and frictional means opertivel'y connectingthe contact control member with Ythe actuating member for causing movement, of the contact control member in unison Withthe actuating member and for permitting movement of the contact control member relative to .the actuating member by overcoming the torque. transmittable by said frictional means, said vContact control member thereby causing deiiection of the spring and displacement of the spring supported contact relative to the other contact upon movement of the contact control member by movement of said actuating member, said-spring returning said contacts into the initial. relative position thereof when the actuating member is released.

y :3. a switching and control apparatus, in

combination, a controlled device including a movable. .control element and controllable by the position of said element,Y a pair of relatively movablepcontacts, a pair of springs each supporting a respective one of said contacts and biased to hold `the contacts in disengaged position, a movable actuating lmember operatively connected with the control element for positioning thereof, a contact control member loosely supported on the actuating member and provided with a slot engaged by said springs, and frictional means operatively connecting the contact control memberwith the actuating member for causing movement of the contact control member in unison withV the actuating member and for permitting movement of the contact control member relative to the actuating member by overcoming they torque transmittable by said frictional means,

saidcontact control member causing relative dis.

placement of said springs and, thereby, engagement of said contacts upon movement of the contact control member by movement of said actuating member, said springs returning said contacts into the initial relative position thereof when the actuating member is released. Y

4. I n a switching and control apparatus, in combination, a controlled device including a movable vcontrol element and controllable by the position Vof said element, a pair of relatively movable contacts, yieldable means coacting with said contacts and biasing the same into a predetermined relative position, a rotatably supported driven shaft operatively connected with said control element Vfor positioning thereof, a rotatably supported driving shaft, clutch means coupling said shafts, said clutch means being arranged and constructed to provide for a limited angular ro` tation of said shafts relative to each other, acontact control member. rotatably supported on the driving shaft, and frictional means arranged and constructed to transmit a limited torque from the driving shaft to the contact control member, said contact control member being arranged to engage a movable one of saidcontacts for displacement of the contacts relative to each other against the action of the yieldable means upon rotation of the driving shaft, said frictional vmeans permitting continued rotation of the driving shaft by overcoming the torque transmittable by the frictional means when the contact control member held substantially stationary upon engagement thereof with said movable contact, said yieldable means being arranged to return the movablecontact into its initial position'by causing rotationof the contact control member together with the driving shaft withinV the limits of said relative angular rotation of the shafts as provided Aby the clutch means.

switchingand control apparatus as described'y claim 4, wherein said clutch n i j Acomprise Va male clutch .element supported on one. shaft, a female clutch element supported on f theother. shaft, and a pin extending from the male clutch element, said female. clutch elemeatf having a recess therein engaged by said piniwitlxl play in circumferential direction to provide for said .limited relative Vangular rotation of the;

shafts. l j 6. A switching and control apparatus as, described in claim 4, wherein said clutch means' comprise a pair of clutch elements each supported onv one shaft, anda floating disk having a Illu-v rality of spaced radial slots and disposed between said clutch elements, and wherein pins on each' clutch element engagesaidslots with playin radial and circumferential directions, the pins ofone clutchelement engaging certain of said slots and the pins of the other clutch element engaging` the other slots to transmit rotationof the driving shaft to the driven .shaft while permitting the said; limited.relativefrotation of the shafts..

7. A switching and control apparatus as described in claim 4, wherein a spring supports at leastone of said contacts and is biased to hold. the contacts in said predetermined relative position, and wherein said contact control member comprises. a substantially disk-shaped element:

having a slot therein positioned to be engaged by Ysaid spring for causing` deflection of the spring ensuing displacement of the contact supportedthereon upon rotation of the driving shaft.

S. A switching and control apparatus as described inclaim 4, wherein each of said contacts' is supported by a spring, said springs being biased the driving shaft is released.

9. A switching and control apparatus for diseY placing a controlled device and altering the connections of an electric circuit for the duration of such displacement only, comprising a driven element for displacing the controlled device, a driv'-l ing element, lost-motion coupling meansinterconnecting said elements for entraininent of the driven .element by the driving element with a certain amount of play, a plurality of relatively movable contacts, a contact control member, frictional coupling means operatively coupling saidY contact control member with saiddriving element insuch manner that the contact control member moves in unison with the driving element,v

thereby coacting with a movable one of said contacts so: as to. alter thecircuit relationship between said contacts, upon an initial movementof said drivingV element substantially not exceeding, said amount of play, stop means for preventing the contact control member from following unidirectional movement of said driving elementl` substantially exceeding said amount of play, and4 resilientmeans tending to oppose entrainment of, said contact control member by said driving element through said frictional coupling means, saidy resilient means being adapted to import a reverse movement. substantially not exceeding said, amount of play to the contact control member and, through the intermediary of said frictional coupling means, to the driving element upon re lease of said driving element, thereby restoring the initial `circuit relationship between said con-v tacts.. Y

10. A switching and control apparatus for displacing a controlled device and selectively closing a pair of circuits, depending on the direction of displacement, for the duration of such displacement only, comprising a driven shaft for displacing the controlled device, a manually rotatable driving shaft, lost-motion coupling means interconnecting said shafts for entrainment of the driven shaft by the driving shaft with a certain amount of play, a pair of normally open contacts, a contact control member, frictional coupling means operatively coupling said contact control member with said driving shaft in such manner that the contact control member moves in unison with the driving shaft upon an initial rotation of said driving shaft, substantially not exceeding said amount of play, in either direction, thereby selectively coacting with a respective pair of contacts to close the contacts thereof, stop means for preventing the contact control member from following a continued rotation of the driving shaft, substantially exceeding said amount of play, in the same direction, and resilient means tending to oppose entrainment of said contact control member by said driving shaft through said frictional coupling means, said resilient means being adapted to impart a reverse rotation substantially not exceeding said amount of of contacts, the contact control member being vprovided. With a recess engaged at all times by said contact arm.

MICHEL N. YARDENY. ROBERT BERNAS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 441,973 Rapieff Dec. 2, 1890 740,547 Fiske Oct. 6. 1903 1,191,973 Johnson July 25, 1916 2,116,842 Metcalf May 10, 1938 2,282,913 Van Lammeren et al. May 12, 1942 2,396,379 Logan Mar. 12, 1946 2,440,807 Mullin May 4, 1948 

